Susan's Place Transgender Resources

i have an appointment later this week. i've decided that i'm gonna tell my psychiatrist that i'm transgender because it's the main cause of my depression and self hate and i'm just tired of lying about my feelings and telling her that i'm fine with my life when i'm not. this is going to be the first person that i'm coming out to and i'm really anxious about it. i'm just worried that she's going to tell my dad or put me in a psychward, think that i'm crazy, or laugh in my face. i know that psychiatrists aren't really experienced with gender issues but that's about all i can do for now.

Quit over thinking it baby. Just be honest and things will be OK. You will not be locked up or laughed at, I guarantee. I don't know about your state, but here age of consent is 16, so parents are not told. Just relax baby, there are plenty of us to help you on your way and who you can vent to or ask questions to. We are family and are there for you all the time. BIG HUG!  :)

Good luck and congratulations! Psychiatrists are not legally allowed to share confidential information without the patient's permission. I can't remember if that also applies to teenagers, but you can ask her to keep this private. She cannot admit you to a psych ward against your will unless you are a threat to yourself and others. If she is the type of psychiatrist who is disrespectful of people with mental illness or would laugh in your face, don't tell her and see a more professional psychiatrist instead.

Heya
thats how I came out  :) they were fine they referred me to the right place , I told them over the phone it was easier for me , im so happy I did , because now im closer to the right help , feel free to pm me if you need any support I was were you are just over a week maybe 2 weeks ago , im 20 but at 16 I knew I was trans and I regret being afraid of myself and others ,
they wont put you in the psych ward , I thought the same would happen to me lol but every one medical has been great I think I found being trans weirder at the being then them , they just want to help :)

That's exactly what I did! In the second session. Good luck with it. Also, as others have said, don't over think it.

They are under the same rules as doctors, any information you tell them remains confidential. My psychologist also helped me massively in telling my parents. Also, initially telling the psychologist lifted a huge weight off my shoulders and helped my depression massively. Hopefully it will be the same for you. Good luck!

Congratulations and good luck! I hope everything goes well for you. :)

*HUGS*

Amy

Honestly my most difficult part. For 2 and a half-odd years, I never had the courage to tell the social worker my mother took me to see. After coming to university, and after having a checkup on my appendicitis surgery I had the day I was supposed to fly out and move in, I was referred to the counselling centre. I'm extremely shy in person about my gender issues but hate lying, or not telling whole truths. But on the electronic for I was given, there were options for gender separate from sex. I put down sex as male, but contemplated for a good 15 minutes whether I should put down gender as male, or female. I put down other, and explained that I was very confused. Now the university psychologist has it i her mind, but I told her to keep it in the backseat for the time being, my sleep issues and school performance are the most critical at the moment to me. That's changed a bit in the last week, adding gender into there as well.
For you, you just have to be confident, stand up for yourself, and just let the truth flow. You'll feel much better when you do, and even better when you start to transition.
I have faith in you. Have faith in yourself :)

You will feel so much better once you do! I know I did earlier in the week when I told my therapist that I was transgender. I swear it felt like a giant elephant got off my chest. It wasn't easy, but it was important to myself to finally tell someone in person that could help me with what I was. Right when we first started the session I had to sign a form with all of my credentials and contact info and one of the things was on the form was how I preferred to be addressed as. I didn't hesitate and put my REAL name down with a smile on my face. She never looked at the form until after the session was over. She asked me so I see you want to be called Megan, is that correct? I looked straight at her and make direct eye contact and said yes while I shook my head up and down. All right then Megan, I look forward to seeing you at our next appointment. I can't even describe the happiness I felt right at that moment, there really are no words nor feelings that I have ever felt in my life that could accurately describe that one minute moment in my life.

Big hugs :D you can do it! 

thanks everyone! you're all really encouraging here haha. so it's ok if i just tell a regular psychiatrist? she doesn't specialize in gender i don't think. just psychiatry. i'm just worried that she's going to tell me it's a phase or something or that she's gonna think i'm mentally ill

Quote from: iamconfused on October 13, 2013, 12:12:37 PM
thanks everyone! you're all really encouraging here haha. so it's ok if i just tell a regular psychiatrist? she doesn't specialize in gender i don't think. just psychiatry. i'm just worried that she's going to tell me it's a phase or something or that she's gonna think i'm mentally ill

hey , she wont :) I thought that too your gunna be fine

Quote from: iamconfused on October 13, 2013, 12:12:37 PMthanks everyone! you're all really encouraging here haha. so it's ok if i just tell a regular psychiatrist? she doesn't specialize in gender i don't think. just psychiatry. i'm just worried that she's going to tell me it's a phase or something or that she's gonna think i'm mentally ill

Dear, so was I. Likely, unless they're bigoted and then shouldn't be working in the general field of social work, she'll at least take it neutrally, and hopefully refer you to a proper gender therapist.
My biggest worry, besides my parents, was being taken to a "correctiment session" where I would be brainwashed to think that I'm not a woman. Fortunately, that hasn't happened yet, and I don't plan it to ever, because I will fight against it. It's my body, I want done what I want to it, and I want my body to match my gender.

Self acceptance produced the biggest and most positive change in my life.  Finally accepting myself after a lifetime of denial felt, as Megan says, "like a giant elephant got off my chest."  OMG i felt so free and continue to consider that the high point of my near year in transition.

Self acceptance is more important, IMO, than all the hormones and surgery money can buy.  While I was materially successful with career and more i was also dying inside and thought my "secret" would go to the grave with me.  Secrets can become kinda toxic and as it turns out for me, plenty of people already considered me "different" than most guys.  Guess I was best at fooling myself.

Self liberation paves the way to consider who we really are and how we are going to move forward.

Any therapist worth their credentials will be supportive of your disclosures as your honesty is key to feeling better.

Big hugs

Quote from: Jessica Merriman on October 13, 2013, 09:18:03 AM
Quit over thinking it baby. Just be honest and things will be OK. You will not be locked up or laughed at, I guarantee. I don't know about your state, but here age of consent is 16, so parents are not told. Just relax baby, there are plenty of us to help you on your way and who you can vent to or ask questions to. We are family and are there for you all the time. BIG HUG!  :)

I agree 100% with Jessica. I told my therapist two months ago, and it definately started up something and now I've gained his confidence and his support!   :) I wish you all the best in your endeavors.

Hey, you will be fine. Your psychiatrist is there to help you and support you....not to judge you.
As Jessica said to you just be honest and it will be okay.
Best of luck and I know it will go well. BIG HUG!!  :)